Thursday, May 16, 2013

pastures-of-plenty-a-great

I recorded this in Nashville shortly after arriving there in 1980...I had been through a terrible depression and came to Nashville out of desperation...I knew some people from visits there from 78-79...a group of Christians. One of the reasons I left WV was the church I was going to was in part causing my depression...I was searching for a way out...I thought to myself 'is there no place where I can find like-minded christians?'...when I began to think of Nashville, I thought of second chances, that the Lord does allow for second chances. That morning, instead of going to my old church, I headed down rte 61 so I wouldn't have to pass by that church...they couldn't help me...they were so focused on performing acts of faith and works that they found acceptable, to fend off God's anger, I began to doubt that God really loved me...that he only cared how well I towed the line, lived up to the scriptures, and obeyed the religious voices that keep repeating, 'jump higher, go further, don't rest, don't fail, don't, don't, don't...' I was worn out, there was no joy in my life, no hope. Shortly after arriving in Nashville, I got a job changing tires and tried reconnecting with my friends...Then I met John Brusseau at a young persons fellowship bible study ... he was so aware of what I was going through and had discovered the antidote was Grace...with John's help I was able to reconnect to a healthy relationship with my faith...the drudgery of it was fading, being replaced by peace tranquility and life. I started playing my music more, and recording at studios on music row....I don't believe I had heard this song more than once, if that...I knew how it went from my core...when I played I felt an enormous rush of power and feeling, connecting with it in such a powerful way...in my motel room, that I broke strings on my guitar....The same thing happened in the studio. Powerful song...by Woody Guthrie... Democracy is not the same as 'working the system' epic pulled it out of the fire...I am a lucky man I realized last night, as I felt my inner voice saying, "I'm going to bed and get to get up tomorrow morning and do this all over again..." https://soundcloud.com/t-paige-1/pastures-of-plenty-a-great

patchwork quilt gauley mtn

photo by t. paige